Uncover the Story of Ki Ronggo I Bondowoso in the Chronicle of Bondowoso

Abstract

Babad was very valuable information for historians to uncover past events that were difficult to obtain from many sources. Lots of trouble to get information from the essence of the Chronicle was because the Chronicle was a literary work that was elusive for general public. Moreover, in the Chronicle of Bondowoso, the script was written in Caraka letter (Java), in the form of song, and structured by Javanese language Kawi that was complex to understand. However, the information from the chronicle was needed to find out information that was not found in the colonial period. This article was dissected by the historical method. The research resulted that before gaining a title as Ki Ronggo I Bondowoso, his name was Raden Bagoes Assra. His ancestors had came from Pamekasan Madura. The information that was obtained from the chronicle related to the life of Raden Bagoes Assra was started since his childhood, adolescence, marriage, and when he was given a task of state by his father-in-law Ki Ronggo Besuki to disclose forest at Bondowoso which would be the shelter called asBondowoso until he became Ki Ronggo I Bondowoso. The information was not obtained from sources at the time whose essence was colonial-centric.